What does the recruiting process look like before exploring scholarships? A good thing to do first is to research colleges you're interested in, see what is available, and what you are eligible for. Whether it is an athletic scholarship, or an academic one, everyone loves scholarships - it's no secret that college is expensive. With that being said, it is also important to not have unrealistic expectations when it comes to receiving scholarship money. Listen to what our coaches have to say about scholarships!

Coaches

Jamie Franks: Head Men's Soccer Coach at University of Denver.

Rob Thompson: Director of Operations at Clemson University. 

Elmar Bolowich: Head Men’s Soccer Coach at George Mason University.

Jess Greer: Operations Coordinator for Women’s Soccer at Washington State University.  

Jamie Franks

Jamie says it is a case by case basis for when the conversation about money should happen. He says that if a school is way out of your price range, then the conversation probably needs to happen earlier on. Jamie also says that the school you go to, needs to fit your academic profile - he talks about the possibilities of academic scholarships. 

Rob Thompson

Rob reminds athletes that the recruiting process is all about relationship building. He says that if you haven't been on campus, they are not going to talk money with you. Rob thinks in general, an athlete's junior year of high school is a very critical year in the recruiting process - this is where things start to get serious. 

Elmar Bolowich

Elmar says he appreciates when players are honest with him upfront. He says that athletes can start asking about scholarship money whenever they choose. Elmar says he understands that a lot of players may have financial strains, and that it is totally acceptable for players to be honest with their scholarship expectations. 

Jess Greer

Jess says it is never wrong to let a school know if your family will need some sort of scholarship money. She also recommends athletes talk to their club and high school coaches about it before the recruiting process gets too far along. Jess says that it's usually a good time to talk to schools about scholarships when visiting the campus. 

Having an open-mind when it comes to scholarships, is the best thing you can do during the process. That way, you don't have any unrealistic expectations, and you are grateful for what you receive!